Polylactylic acid besins and pbocess



Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1...... W13," $.21: 53f... a.

ea erness."

No Drawing. Application May :1, 1944,

Serial No. 587,683

(eased unllcr the. m or March amended April :0, 192s: m o. G is!) an inert gas. such as nitrogen, which was bub bled through the mixture ineach instance.

Example; 1.-Mdiflcati0n with polymeric oleflnic hydrocarbons One hundred twenty parts of polylactylic acids and 25 parts of castor oil were placed in the apparatus referred to above and heated for 90 mincoating compositions comprising the condensation product of polylactylie acids (also known as polylactyllaet-i'c acids) and fatty drying oils and to the process of making them. v 4

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application for patent Serial No. 441,236, filed April 30, 1942, now Patent No.

2,363,103, the disclosureoi which is incorporated herein by reference.

The coating compositions of this invention are especially suitable for use as protective finishes on metal food containers and other articles. The

baked coatings have an unusually high degree age in'the supply of tin and other materials such 'as phthalic anhydride and glycerol commonly used in large quantities in the manufacture of flexible coatings. Since the coatings of this inutes while the temperature was gradually raised from 105 C. to 228 C. Then parts of linseed oil were added, followed by 2 parts of activated bauxite. After holding at about 228 C. for 25 minutes, 5 parts of maleic anhydride were added, followed after 20 minutes with 5 parts of iumaric acid with the temperature at 236 C. The temperature was gradually increased to 255 C. during the next 15 minutes, and 20 parts 01 polymerized olefinic hydrocarbons (petropols)'derived from cracked petroleum distillates were then added. A 'iurther description of petropols may be found in Mattiello, Protective and-Decorative Coatings, 1941, volume I, pages 482 to 484. The

. temperature was then held at 255 to 260 C. for

vention are derived from other sources, an alleviation of the resent situation may be attained by their use in industry.

The present invention is directed generally to and an object thereof comprises the modification of the process of making the resin bythe addition of certain other resinous compounds which improve the chemical resistance of the coatings (principally the resistance ofthe coatings to alkalies). The hardness, drying and baking properties of'the coatings are in certain instances likewise improved. I have discovered that these improved properties may be induced in the polylactylic-fatty drying oil condensationproduct containing about to 70% polylactylic acid and 20m 50% of the fatty drying oil by the addition of about 10 to 15 percent of one or more.

40 minutes,and then raised to 266 to 269 C. for 25 minutes, when the'viscosity suddenly increased. .The resin was rapidly cooled and xylol .was added to the hot resin while being stirred in order to effect solution;

The coating solution was adjusted to about a 25% resin content,-and metallic naphthenate driers added' as follows, the percentage indicating the weight of metal added to the resin: cobalt 0.05%; manganes 0.05%; zinc 0.10%. Thiscoating was tested by baking two coats on steel at 205 ,C. the first for 20 minutes and the second for 40 minutes. The coating had good resistance to steam and fair resistance to alkali. It was also resistant to gasoline and oil. When chilled to 16 c. (20 minutes bake at 205 c.)

the coating did not become brittle. This coating composition yielded films which set within a few minutes and dried in the air.

Erample 2.Modiflcation with polymerized cycloparamn hydrocarbons Thirty parts of cycloparamn (naphthene) hydrocarbon polymers derived from coke oven distillates were heated together with parts of conjugated linseed oil, and xylol was added to aid in solution. When dissolved the solution was introduced into the apparatus reierredto, which contained 120 parts of polylactylic acids at a cient stirrer and means for the introduction of temperature of 100 C. The temperature was.

gradually. raised to 275 C. during a period of 85minutes and held at 275 C.-280 C. for

minutes. The temperature was increased to 300 C. during the next 15 minutes when the resin- J for 55 minutes. The resistance of this coatin was excellent when tested in 1% sodium hydroxide and also had fair resistance to steam. The coating was also resistant to 50% sulphuric acid, 50% acetic acid and to concentrated hydrochloric acid. This coating'also set within a few minutes and dried inf the air.

Example 3.Mdification with oil-soluble, alkylsubstituted phenolic .resin One hundred twenty parts of polylactylic acids together with 30 parts of castor oil were placed in the apparatus previously described at a temperature of 115 C. The temperature was raised to 240 C. during .30 minutes, then 30 parts of linseed oil and 2 parts of activated bauxite were added. The temperature was maintained at 235 C. for '10 minutes, and then increased to 265 C. during the next 25 minutes, when 20 parts of butyl-substituted phenol-formaldehyde resin were added. The temperature was then gradually raised to 312 C. over a 3-hour period, when a rapid increase in the viscosity of the resin indicated the end oi. the process. The temperature was rapidly reduced, and xylol added while the cooling resin was stirred.

The coating solution was adjusted to contain Example 4.Modiflcation with oil-soluble, arylsubstituted phenolic resin One hundred twenty parts of polylactylic acids, together with 30 parts of castor oil were placed in the apparatus at a temperature of 225 C. The temperature was raised to 234 C. during a period of 15 minutes, and 30 parts of soya bean oil were added, followed by 2 parts of activated bauxite. The temperature was gradually raised to 270 C. during the next 2 hours and then 20 parts of phenyl-substituted phenol-formaldehyde resin were added. The temperature was then held at 260 C. to 280 C. for 2%, hours. The temperature was then increased gradually to 310 C. over a period of 50 minutes. At this point the hot resin was quite viscous. A cooled sample was tacky and rubbery. The process was stopped by .cooling with the addition of xylol while the resin was being stirred.

Some of the resin remained undissolved, and enough methyl n-amyl ketone was added to effect solution. Sample coatings baked for 45 min- Example 5.Modiflcation with melamine-formaldehyde resin One hundred thirty parts of polylactylic acids together with 10 parts of maleic anhydride were placed in the apparatus at a temperature of 195 5 C. The temperature was raised to 210 C. in

minutes and 30 parts of castor oil were added.

After minutes the temperature was 223 C., and 30 parts of hydroxylated linseed oil and 2 parts of activated bauxite were added. The tem- 20 perature was gradually increased to 260 C. over a period of 104 minutes, and then maintained at 260 to 266 C. for 46 minutes. The temperature was then increased to 269 C. over a period of 13 minutes when the resin began to gel. The

resin was cooled at once with the admixture of xylol while stirring.

The resin in solution was very light colored, being a pale yellow. The solution was filtered and the resin content adjusted to 25 percent by 0 weight. Metallic naphthenate driers were added as follows, the percentage indicating the weight of metal added to the resin: manganese, 0.03%; cobalt, 0.02%; zinc, 0.01%. Test samples of this coating composition were baked in thin films for as 10 minutes at 205 0., and yielded clear, yellow, medium hard and tough coatings. When baked for minutes at this temperature, the coatings were quite hard and steam resistant but not very resistant to 1% sodium hydroxide solution;

The above coating composition was modified by blending with a 50:50 xylol-butanol solution of thermosetting melamine-formaldehyde resin, to make the content of the latter 15% of the total resin on a solids basis. Test samples of this modified coating composition did not show any increase in steam resistance, but the hardness and resistance to alkali improved. The coating had a high degree oi." hardness when baked for 10 minutes at 205 C. Where only moderate protectlon is required the coating can be baked for 10 minutes at 170 C.

' In my process it is advisable to effect ester interchange first by heating the components at a relatively low temperature (below 250 C.) before increasing the temperature in order to induce molecular polymerization. Castor oil can be reacted directly with the polylactylic acids without lower yields obtained when oils such as straight linseed or soya bean oil are used is evidently due to the increased period of heating required for the non-conjugated fatty acid chains to rearrange to a conjugated form.

It might be expected that the .olefinic and naphthenic polymers in Examples 1 and 2 would be incompatible with the polyester type of polymer formed frompolylactylic acids and fatty oils.

Howeverg I have discovered that these hydrocardbon polymers may be incorporated with the polyester resin by aiding them in the latter stages of the heating process, and then raising the temperature to about 270 C. to C. The mixture is then heated until an adv nced stage of resinification short of becoming insoluble and infusible is reached.

It is obvious that polymeric hydrocarbons cannot combine with a polyester type of polymer by means of interesterification, and it is apparent that modification is effected chiefly by a conjoint polymerization, except for some degree of copolymerization which is likely to occur, especially in the case of the olefinic hydrocarbons, due to their considerable degree of unsaturation, and because of some decomposition of the naphthenic hydrocarbons at the high temperatures (above 275 C.) used.

The heat-reactive phenolic re'sins apparently combine to some extent with the conjugated olefinic fatty-acid glyceride's present, andthere also may be some combination through the hydroxyl groups of the polyester resin.

Melamine-formaldehyde resins polymerizewith extreme rapidity on heating, and therefore cannot be heat processed with the polyester resin except in the final baking of the coating, which indicates that this is essentially a conjoint polymerization.

The removal of water and other volatile products produced during the heating process may be facilitated by the use of a low degree of vacuum in the reaction vessel. The introduction of an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen also reduces the time required to process the resin by aiding in the removal of volatile matter. This procedure aids also in the production of a light colored resin especially when about 5' percent of maleic anhydride, fumaric acid or a mixture of both are used in the formulation. These agents also serve to accelerate the resinification process doubtless by virture of the presence of their double bonds. Then,'too, by this means about percent of the low-cost, dark colored, olefinic hydrocarbons (petropols) may be incorporated in the resin, and the color of the final product will be darkened to only a moderate degree. The average coating is a golden yellow color when baked on light surfaces. These petroleum derivative polymers sell for only a few cents per pound, and their inclusion in the resin results insome reduction in the cost of the coating.

The ingredients, catalysts, and polymerization suitable for the preparation of liquid coatings,

mixing with fillers, pigments and the like for the preparation of molded articles. The exact point at which the reaction should be interrupteddepends upon the ultimate use of the product, and

given set of conditions, and can thereafter be,

ascertained by means of careful timing and observation of the changes in viscosity.

The yield of resinous products generally 'obtained ranges from about 65 to 85 percent, de-

pending upon several factors such as the time and temperature required to efifect resinification,

which varies with different formulations. The

use of modified drying oils, for example, con-v Jugated and hydroxylated linseed oils, tend to increase the yield obtained because of their increased reactivity.

As with other condensation polymerization 0 products, the resins of this invention will in general consist of a series of molecules of closely 'centration.

conditions for the production of a resin having certain desired properties can be determined readily by experiment. For instance, my resins may be prepared without the use of a catalyst.

. However, the addition of a condensation or polyoxide, vanadium, pentoxide, ferric oxide, bauxite,

magnesium methoxide, ferrous lactate. Near the end of the polymerization process when the reaction mixture has started to show a rapid increase in viscosityfif the reaction is interrupted by guick cooling, the resin will not have reached the infusible and insoluble stage and is particularly similar structure. The ave-rage molecular weight of the polymers is subject to control within certain limits, and the further the reaction has progressed, the higher will'be the average molecular weight.

Determinations of the molecular weight of the viscous rubbery polymers (acid number 40 to 50) obtained in the straight condensation of polylactylic acid with fatty oils made by means of the boiling point and melting point methods indicated that the average molecular weight was about 1200 to 1400. Of course this figure will vary somewhat, depending. on the particular procedure used in preparing the .resin. 'The comparable to these.

The baked coatings of this invention are re- 'sistant to the action of salt water, gasoline, lubricating oil, and to many of the common solvents. They are also resistant to acids in moderate con- However, due to the ester-like nature "of this resin, it may be susceptible to attack by alkalies, and the modifications described herein are directed mainly to improve the coatings in this respect.

The flexibility, hardness, and resistance of these coatings to various agents may be varied somewhat by the use of different proportions and mixtures of the fattyoils. The proportion of fatty oil used in the formulations should be at least 20 percent of the weight of the ingredients in order to insure adequate flexibility in the baked coatings. The properties of the coating are also influenced by the choice and amount of modifying agents, driers, etc. used. For instance, the use-of a zinc drier 'in conjunction with other metallic driers increases the resistance to alkali, but may decrease the resistance to steam.

. Then, too, a thin coating will bake more rapidly,

be harder and more resistant to the action of- .steam than a thick coating.

, For many purposes the durability and apparatus of the resinous product is enhanced by the addition of pigments. The usual types of pigment may be incorporated, although chemically However, from inert, heat stable ones are preferred, such as titanium dioxide,- carbon black, ironoxides and earth colors.

My invention also comprises water emulsion coatings, which may be prepared by dispersing the liquid resin in water. As an aid in forming the emulsion, fatty acids and an amine such as ethylene diamine may be added. The emulsion may be stabilized bythe addition of bentonite or a vegetable protein, and metallic driers may also be added during the formulation.

It is to be understood further that gaskets, tubes, extruded products, and other flexible artimore than 6 carbon atoms.

cles are within the scope of this invention. These may be prepared by the incorporation of driers, fillers, and curing agents in the resin and heating -moderately, preferably at temperatures below about 125 C.

My invention includes also the use of the polymeric product in the impregnating, gluing, and molding of various articles, such as laminated paper, wood and metal products. The use of elevated temperatures andhigh pressures in the formation of these compositions are familiar to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my inventionI claim:

1. A process for preparing a resinous material which comprises heating at polymerizing temperatures a mixture of between 35 and 70% polylactylic acids, between 20 and 50% fatty drying oils, substantially of a member selected from the group consisting of fumaric acid, maleic anhydride, and mixtures of fumaric acid and maleic anhydride, until partial polymerization is eifected, and then adding between 10 and of a modifying agent selected from the group consisting of an unmodified, oil-soluble alkyl'phenolformaldehyde resin and an unmodified, oil-soluble aryl phenol-formaldehyde resin, wherein the alkyl substituent contains not less than 4 and not more than 6 carbon atoms,- and the aryl substituent is chosen from the group consisting of 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the modifying agent ,is an unmodified, oil-soluble arylphenol-formaldehyde resin in which the aryl substituent is chosenfrom the group consisting of v phenyl and naphthyl.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the heating is eflected in the presence of a polymerization catalyst.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the heating is effected in the absence; of any appreciable amount of oxygen. f

6. The resinous material produced by the process of claim 1. v

7. An aqueous emulsion of the resinous material produced by the process of claim 1.

PAUL D. WATSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PKI'ENTS Number Name Date 2,127,248 Dorough Aug. 16, 1938 2,362,511 Teeters Nov. 14, 1944. 2,363,103 Watson Nov. 21, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 311.657 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1930 

